Blasting Them With Light
- Thread starter Speezy
- Start date
Mike_Donis
Veteran
Re: Blasting Them With Light
Is this for narrative work, or documentaries? If it's for narratives, I'd suggest against the use of an on camera light altogether...
If you're doing live work (bar mitzvahs, documentaries, etc) and you have to, it'll still look like "cops", but it'll be more acceptable. But if you're making a feature, it *will* look cheesey. Best thing I'd suggest is to diffuse the light, get a soft box or something to the like, to make sure that there's as soft a light as possible. This'll make it less noticeable...
Is this for narrative work, or documentaries? If it's for narratives, I'd suggest against the use of an on camera light altogether...
If you're doing live work (bar mitzvahs, documentaries, etc) and you have to, it'll still look like "cops", but it'll be more acceptable. But if you're making a feature, it *will* look cheesey. Best thing I'd suggest is to diffuse the light, get a soft box or something to the like, to make sure that there's as soft a light as possible. This'll make it less noticeable...
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: Blasting Them With Light
As Mike said, the first thing towards reducing the "deer in the headlights" look is to get a decent soft box. PhotoFlex makes a 5" x 7" softbox for on-camera lights. But if you're shooting through a softbox, you'll need a fairly powerful light -- probably at least 75 watts, preferably 100.
Second thing to do, if at all possible, is get the light off-axis. Blaring light directly from the camera will be the least flattering. Move it over to the side so it angles onto your subject and it'll look much better.
As Mike said, the first thing towards reducing the "deer in the headlights" look is to get a decent soft box. PhotoFlex makes a 5" x 7" softbox for on-camera lights. But if you're shooting through a softbox, you'll need a fairly powerful light -- probably at least 75 watts, preferably 100.
Second thing to do, if at all possible, is get the light off-axis. Blaring light directly from the camera will be the least flattering. Move it over to the side so it angles onto your subject and it'll look much better.
Re: Blasting Them With Light
[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=lighting;num=1089130032;start=0#3 date=07/06/04 at 10:45:04]As Mike said, the first thing towards reducing the "deer in the headlights" look is to get a decent soft box. PhotoFlex makes a 5" x 7" softbox for on-camera lights. But if you're shooting through a softbox, you'll need a fairly powerful light -- probably at least 75 watts, preferably 100.
Second thing to do, if at all possible, is get the light off-axis. Blaring light directly from the camera will be the least flattering. Move it over to the side so it angles onto your subject and it'll look much better.[/quote]
Very good advice. I didn't even know they made softbox's for on camera lights. I agree with turning the light off-axis as well. A stright on flat light looks horrid unless thats the effect your looking for... then it looks great
[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=lighting;num=1089130032;start=0#3 date=07/06/04 at 10:45:04]As Mike said, the first thing towards reducing the "deer in the headlights" look is to get a decent soft box. PhotoFlex makes a 5" x 7" softbox for on-camera lights. But if you're shooting through a softbox, you'll need a fairly powerful light -- probably at least 75 watts, preferably 100.
Second thing to do, if at all possible, is get the light off-axis. Blaring light directly from the camera will be the least flattering. Move it over to the side so it angles onto your subject and it'll look much better.[/quote]
Very good advice. I didn't even know they made softbox's for on camera lights. I agree with turning the light off-axis as well. A stright on flat light looks horrid unless thats the effect your looking for... then it looks great
Slapdragon
Well-known member
Re: Blasting Them With Light
Try bounce boards on C-Stands.
Try bounce boards on C-Stands.
DVX100Shooter
Veteran
Re: Blasting Them With Light
Depending on the type of light it is there are several options.
1. Use a low wattage bulb
2. Anton Bauer makes little small Softboxes for their ultralight on board camera lights.
3. some companies have barn doors on their lights
4. You can go a step further with the barn doors and clip a half sheet of diffusion onto the light.
Kino Flow makes a RING LITE (not sure on official name) but its a soft light that you attach around the lens of the camera. A friend of mine told me he saw a Network Photographer with one on his ENG camera and he said the reporter was lit very nicely. It wasn't to bright or to soft...however B&H has this light for about $495
Depending on the type of light it is there are several options.
1. Use a low wattage bulb
2. Anton Bauer makes little small Softboxes for their ultralight on board camera lights.
3. some companies have barn doors on their lights
4. You can go a step further with the barn doors and clip a half sheet of diffusion onto the light.
Kino Flow makes a RING LITE (not sure on official name) but its a soft light that you attach around the lens of the camera. A friend of mine told me he saw a Network Photographer with one on his ENG camera and he said the reporter was lit very nicely. It wasn't to bright or to soft...however B&H has this light for about $495
Re: Blasting Them With Light
[quote author=Speezy link=board=lighting;num=1089130032;start=0#0 date=07/06/04 at 09:07:12]I'm looking to get an on-camera light but I don't want to have my subjects look like they're in the front of a photon cannon. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to use an on-camera joint without it looking like an episode of COPS? 8)[/quote]
Well . . .
They ARE, quite literally, in front of a "photon cannon" when they're in front of any light . . .
[quote author=Speezy link=board=lighting;num=1089130032;start=0#0 date=07/06/04 at 09:07:12]I'm looking to get an on-camera light but I don't want to have my subjects look like they're in the front of a photon cannon. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to use an on-camera joint without it looking like an episode of COPS? 8)[/quote]
Well . . .
They ARE, quite literally, in front of a "photon cannon" when they're in front of any light . . .
Rogue Crew
Well-known member
Re: Blasting Them With Light
[quote author=Speezy link=board=lighting;num=1089130032;start=0#9 date=07/07/04 at 10:33:46]Ok folks, I just picked up the Cool Lux SL3000. I'll let cha know how it works out.[/quote]
Good choice, Speezy.
[quote author=Speezy link=board=lighting;num=1089130032;start=0#9 date=07/07/04 at 10:33:46]Ok folks, I just picked up the Cool Lux SL3000. I'll let cha know how it works out.[/quote]
Good choice, Speezy.
Speezy
Active member
Re: Blasting Them With Light
Well, I've been playing around with the Cool Lux and it's looking good so far. My only question is this, it came with a cable i assume plugs into a power source. Being that the plug is 4 prong, what in the world do I plug it into if I don't want to use a DC adapter? Must I have a power belt? There's got to be another method. Anyone care to enlighten a newbie?
Well, I've been playing around with the Cool Lux and it's looking good so far. My only question is this, it came with a cable i assume plugs into a power source. Being that the plug is 4 prong, what in the world do I plug it into if I don't want to use a DC adapter? Must I have a power belt? There's got to be another method. Anyone care to enlighten a newbie?